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Mobile communication terminal and method thereforeRelated Patent Categories: Data Processing: Presentation Processing Of Document, Operator Interface Processing, And Screen Saver Display Processing, Operator Interface (e.g., Graphical User Interface), On-screen Workspace Or Object, CursorMobile communication terminal and method therefore description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070094617, Mobile communication terminal and method therefore. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] This invention relates to a method for, and an electronic apparatus with, improved controlling of a cursor in a Graphical User Interface (GUI), and a computer program product implementing said method. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] During the last decades, mobile terminals have become a common item for many people throughout the world. From being an item focused on telephone communication, the mobile terminals of today are more to be described as portable media and communication devices with, for instance, built-in camera, Internet access and many other communication services. [0003] The new features set new demands on the usability of the mobile terminals. One important usability issue is cursor controlling. An easy and intuitive navigation, i.e. cursor controlling, may be decisive when a customer chooses a new mobile terminal. Therefore, it is of great importance for mobile terminal developers to take usability issues into account. [0004] Another aspect is that the mobile terminals of today are used, due to the increased portability, under more difficult circumstances, regarding movements, shakes, cramped positions etc. Hence, a more robust control is necessary in order to provide an easy and precise cursor navigation. [0005] In the early mobile terminals, navigation in menus and between different services was made with a number of buttons, e.g. an `up` button and a `down` button. Later on, due to more sophisticated services, a joystick was introduced, which supported a number of directions, in most cases at least `up`, `down`, `right` and `left`. Although the number of directions was increased for such a cursor control device, the applications of the mobile terminals were increasingly complex, which caused a number of new usability issues. [0006] One of these issues was that the joystick, or other type of cursor control device, was too sensitive in some cases. For instance, when going through a drop-down menu, there was a not negligible risk of ending up outside the menu, i.e. not being able to steer the cursor straight, and hence exiting the menu unintentionally. However, in other cases, e.g. when drawing a figure, an as sensitive cursor control device as possible is preferable. [0007] This problem is present for all electronic apparatuses having a display with a GUI (Graphical User Interface) and a cursor control device, such as a mobile terminal, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), a hand-held computer, a lap-top computer or a stationary computer. [0008] A solution for improved usability is presented in US 2004/0021694, which discloses a computer implemented method for changing between a cursor control mode and a scroll control mode. The cursor control mode allowing a user to move a cursor in a graphical user interface (GUI) and the scroll control mode allows the user to scroll in the GUI. The cursor and scroll movements are based on positional data supplied by an input device such as a mouse. [0009] This document mainly treats the problem associated with having a scroll controller and a cursor controller separated from each other. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0010] In view of the above, an objective of the invention is to solve or at least reduce the problems discussed above. In particular, an objective is to enhance the cursor control in a GUI of an electronic apparatus, which in turn will improve the usability of the services provided by the electronic apparatus. [0011] According to a first aspect, the invention is realized by a method for controlling a cursor in a graphical user interface (GUI) of an electronic apparatus having a display and a cursor control device, the method comprising receiving a direction signal from said cursor control device, determining a current mode for said electronic apparatus in response to an actuation of an element of said GUI, relating said direction signal to a set of predetermined directions, wherein said set of predetermined directions depends on said current mode, classifying said direction signal into one direction in said set of predetermined directions, and moving said cursor according to said one direction. [0012] An advantage with this first aspect is that different modes of the electronic apparatus may have different cursor controlling. Hence, an optimized cursor control may be used for each mode of the apparatus. [0013] In one of the embodiments of the first aspect, the set of predetermined directions is selected from a number of available sets of predetermined directions. [0014] An advantage with having a number of available sets of predetermined directions is that different modes of the device can easily be mapped to one of the number of available sets. [0015] Depending on the services provided by the device the number of available sets of predetermined directions can vary. In one the embodiments of the first aspect two different available sets is suitable, in another embodiment three is suitable, and in still another embodiment four is suitable. Even more than four different sets may be available for some embodiments. [0016] In one embodiment of the first aspect, each of said sets of predetermined directions comprises a different number of predetermined directions. [0017] In one embodiment of the first aspect, the number of directions in said set of predetermined directions depends on said current mode and may be of the type 2.sup.n, where n is a positive integer. An advantage with this embodiment is that the directions are easy to represent digitally. [0018] Further, in the above mentioned method the actuated element of said GUI can be a drop-down menu. [0019] Additionally, in this embodiment, the set of predetermined directions advantageously comprises four directions, where first and second directions are for navigating among menu items of said drop-down menu, and third and fourth directions are for exiting said drop-down menu. [0020] The set of predetermined directions in this or other embodiments can also comprise at least three directions, first and second directions being for navigating among menu items of said drop-down menu, and a third direction being for opening a sub-menu of said drop-down menu. In one embodiment, this is combined with what is stated in the immediately preceding paragraph above, so that first and second predetermined directions are for navigating among menu items in a drop-down menu, whereas a third direction is for openening a sub-menu of the drop-down menu, if available, or otherwise for exiting the drop-down menu. [0021] Additionally, the above mentioned method can further involve steps of determining a force feedback which has been predefined for said one direction classified in said step of classifying, and performing said force feed back. Continue reading about Mobile communication terminal and method therefore... Full patent description for Mobile communication terminal and method therefore Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Mobile communication terminal and method therefore patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Mobile communication terminal and method therefore or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Method and apparatus for displaying key information in portable terminal Next Patent Application: Multiple cursor system Industry Class: Data processing: presentation processing of document ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Mobile communication terminal and method therefore patent info. 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